The recent yarn in this blog about renewed interest in sightings of something strange in waters off Darwin years ago , which became known as the Mandorah Monster , drew an immediate response from a gentleman who should write his memoirs about his adventures on land and sea .
Under the nom-de-plume an unidentified Darwin correspondent , he declared the MM was a well known beat up by certain Northern Territory News hounds, on dull news days, in order to fill space. They even had photos of an incoming tidal "'ripple"' and this wavelet was often described as travelling at some fantastic speed - Aaah those good ole days... he added .
One became snagged on a rope anchor and gave him and another person on the boat a short, fast ride. It was just one of many memorable unforgettable occasions when fishing on a shoal near the Two Fella Creek entrance. ( Bushman and author Bill Harney, born at Charters Towers, Queensland, used to live at Two Fella Creek ).
" I was pulling the reef anchor up when it happened, "he recalled .
" It was witnessed by a nearby boat who just laughed and chiacked us with the usual teasing of those days. These huge rays would often have their wing flaps turned up, as they surfaced, when chasing a meal, and thus these 'stories' gained momentum with the oft re-telling, etc. It was good for Mandorah tourism and a known joke."
(Monster, Darwin , Ray.)
